GM says it needs to do more work than expected to fix ignition switches on 2.2 million already-recalled small cars, including this 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. / Chevrolet

by James R. Healey, USATODAY

by James R. Healey, USATODAY

General Motors said on Wednesday it must fix another defect involving the ignition of the small cars it has recalled for faulty switches.

GM issued a new recall for the 2003 to 2011 cars, this one to replace another part of the ignition mechanism -- the "lock cylinder" into which the key is inserted -- because the current ones could allow the key to be pulled out while the cars is running.

As a result, GM now says it will take $1.3 billion charge against first-quarter earnings for costs of the expanded recall. That's up from the $300 million that GM first announced and later expanded to more than $700 million. GM has expanded the universe of recalled cars twice before adding the new work on Wednesday.

That lock cylinder problem, GM says, could lead to "a possible roll-away, crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries."

The company GM said it is "aware of several hundred complaints of keys coming out of ignitions." It said that "searches of GM and government databases found one roll-away in a parking lot that resulted in a crash and one injury claim. The same searches turned up no fatalities."

The previous recall was for faulty ignition switches that can inadvertently slip out of "run," shutting off the engine and disabling airbags. It is linked by GM to 31 crashes and 12 deaths in the U.S. and one fatal crash in Canada.

GM dealers just now are getting the new ignition switches for that recall fix. Now dealers also "replace the ignition lock cylinders" and "if necessary, reprogram new keys."

Vehicles involved in both the switch and lock cylinder recalls:

2003-2007 Saturn Ion

2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt

2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice

2007-2010 Pontiac G5

2007-2010 Saturn Sky

2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR

The company says that the switches and lock cylinders -- which are from different suppliers -- will be packaged together and the work will be done in the same repair visit.